Frances Rae Carlson, 80, of Mt. Olive passed away peacefully with family Thursday, July 18, 2024 at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville.


A memorial service will be held Friday, July 26, 2024, at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Howell Funeral Home & Crematory in Goldsboro. The family will receive family and friends following the service.


Mrs. Carlson was born in Nebraska on March 18, 1944 to the late Frank and Delores (Ripperger) Winans. She married the love of her life on July 17, 1964 and they traveled the world with their 2 children following John's military career retiring at Seymour Johnson AFB. She attended Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Chapel while her health permitted. She enjoyed traveling to Georgia to visit and spend time with her daughter, son-in-law, 2 grand-daughters and 2 great-grandsons. While in Georgia her favorite thing to do was have one on one time with the girls to go shopping and spend time together. Fran also enjoyed her calls and facetime chats with her grand-daughter and great-grandson in New York.


She leaves to cherish her memories her daughter, Renee (Andrew) Lethco, Amber (Stevie) Lethco, Amanda (Matthew) Ross; Kathrin (Danny) Salame; Daniel, Michelle, John-Robert; three sisters, Beverly Ritthaler, Teresa (Red) White and Charleen (Mel) Anderson; in-laws, Rhonda Winans, Michael (Jennifer) Carlson, Connie (Rich) Baker, Deb Pendelton, Becky (Wendell) McAfee, thirteen great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.


In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, John Edward Carlson; one son, Robert Lee Carlson; mother-in law, Dorothy Reber; one brother, Frank Winans, one sister, Kathy Asche, brother-in-law, DeJon Reber and nephew, Nathan Pendelton.


The family is in the care of Howell Funeral Home & Crematory in Goldsboro.